Step-ladder



(No Model.)

B. P. JOHNSON.

I STEP LADDER. No. 394,492. Patented Dec. 11, 1888.

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WITNESSES,

' In .Attorney N4 PETER5, PnulwLltMgmphnr. Washingtun, DJ}- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BENJAMIN F. JOHNSON, OF IVAVERLY, NEW YORK.

STEP-LADDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 394,492, dated December 11, 1888.

Application filed April 13, 1888. Serial No. 270,558. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN F. J oHNsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at \Vaverly, in the county of Tioga and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Step-Ladders; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to an improvement in step-ladders; and it consists in the construction and arrangement of the parts, as more fullyv hereinafter described and claimed.

It is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a front view in elevation; Fig. 2, a side elevation, and Fig. 3 a detail.

In the drawings, A represents one section of my ladder of the common step ladder form, and A the other section with the ordinary rounds or steps, and hinged or pivoted to section A by pins (1, as shown at b.

B is a removable platform, provided at its ends on the under side with wedge-shaped cleats B. IVhen the ladder is opened, the platform is placed on the upper rounds, d d, of the two sections and under the pins a, and thereby held rigidly in place. Any tendency of the ladder to spread will be prevented by the binding of the two sections of the ladder upon the platform at their pivoted joint.

By the use of the bew'eled cleats when the platform is placed under the pins and pushed forward toward the thicker ends it will be held rigidly in place, and also act as a rigid brace between the two sections; but until the platform is put in place some brace is necessary to hold the ladder apart, and to so hold it when the platform is removed or transferred; and although for this purpose any form of brace might answer I prefer the form shown in the drawings, which consists of a rod, R, provided with an eye, r, which is secured to and slides on a holder, S, at tached to one of the steps and provided with two loops, 8 The opposite end of the rod R is provided with a hook, i

\Vheu the ladder is folded, the eye r is at the outer side of holder S in loop s, and its hooked end engages with a staple or pin, 3, on the same section of the ladder. \Yhen the ladder is opened, the brace is slid along the holder b until its eye rests in the loop when its opposite end is hooked into a staple, f, on the step or round on the opposite section of the ladder. By this form of device but one brace-rod is necessary, by reason of its central position, whereby when in use both arms of the ladder are held rigidly in place, and when not in use it may be conveniently slid to one side and locked in one side of the arm out of the way.

It is unnecessary to enumerate the advantages of such a structure for all purposes for which a step-ladder is employed, as the same will be obvious without further description.

I am aware that step-ladders provided with hinged or detachable platforms are old; but

\Vhat I claim as my invention is- 1. The combination, in a ladder, of two ladder-sections pivotally secured together by pins extending through and beyond the inner section, and a detachable platform provided with beveled cleats, whereby said platform is adapted to be secured between said pins and the top rounds of the said sections, substantially as described.

2. In combination with a ladder composed of two sections pivotally secured together, the brace-rod R, holders, provided with loops 5 .9 secured to one of the ladder-steps, and on which the brace-rod is adapted to slide, a central staple on one of the opposite steps, with which said brace engages when the ladder is opened, and a staple or pin on the same section to which the brace is secured, to which the brace-rod is hooked when the ladder is folded, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

BENJAMIN F. JOHNSON.

Vitnesses:

J. T. SAWYER, H. H. KINNEY. 

